‘Islamophobia’ acceptance plea

A Muslim member of the House of Lords is urging the government to adopt a new definition of “Islamophobia” after a working group submitted its proposals.

Islamic website hyphenonline.com, which says it is the “leading media platform on Muslim life in the UK and Europe”, reports that the plea comes from Baroness Shaista Gohir, who leads the Muslim Women’s Network UK.

Earlier this year, the Government set up the working group, including Gohir, to produce an “official definition” of the word. It is understood they reported their conclusions to the Government in early October. The proposal should be adopted or “risk sending a message that ‘Muslims don’t matter’,” hyphenonline reported her as saying.

However, grave concerns that free speech could be restricted have been expressed by Christian Concern, the Christian Institute, and National Secular Society, among others. And the Network of Sikh Organisations has threatened legal action.